Embracing Banana Polyculture in Uganda

The ‘Diversity for Resilient Agroforestry Banana Plantations in East Africa (D4RABs)’ project seeks to enhance local livelihoods, food security and biodiversity conservation while addressing the challenges posed by traditional banana monoculture cultivation. This initiative is particularly timely, given the increasing threats posed by climate change, declining soil fertility and increased pressure of pathogens.

The Need for Change

Banana monoculture has long been the norm in Isingiro, where bananas are a key cash crop for many farming households. However, this approach has led to declining productivity due to soil depletion, increased pest and disease incidence, and vulnerability to extreme weather conditions, such as droughts and heatwaves. Recognizing these challenges, the D4RABs project was designed to promote a more sustainable and resilient agricultural model by integrating diverse crops alongside bananas (particularly tree species), which can contribute to a diversification of income streams while providing critical ecosystem services, ensuring more resilience to the production systems.